Tourist Recounts Harrowing Moments as Diving Trip to Koh Laan Turns Deadly Amid Storm, Left Adrift Without Help
A diving tour near Koh Laan in Pattaya turned dangerous in May when tourists were left struggling in the sea during a sudden storm, with inadequate staff assistance and children unaware of the emergency situation.
On May 20, 2025, social media users shared video clips and accounts from a TikTok user describing a join-tour diving experience near Koh Laan in Pattaya, Chonburi Province that ended in disaster when they encountered severe waves and a sudden storm at sea, sparking criticism over marine tourism safety protocols.
Other social media users claiming to have been present reported that many tourists were forced to help themselves because there were insufficient staff to assist, while some staff responses were considered inappropriate, generating further online backlash.
According to the original poster, she traveled to Koh Laan with her sister from another province and decided on May 4 to purchase a join-tour diving package as no other tour options were available. She recounted that after the boat reached the diving site, everyone entered the water normally without any weather warnings or storm alerts, despite already visible high waves and strong winds.
Approximately 10 minutes after entering the water, a staff member supervising tourists swam back to the boat and announced an incoming storm. A nearby tour boat immediately brought its tourists out of the water, but her group was left floating in the sea. As waves intensified, tourists struggled to climb aboard an increasingly rocking vessel while life buoys were swept away by waves, causing some to exhaust themselves fighting the currents and swallow seawater.
The woman reported that when her sister sought help from a jet ski operator, she was told to hold onto a buoy—even as strong waves pulled her underwater. She eventually released the buoy and swam to another boat by herself. The poster and her boyfriend were swept toward another vessel, where they were safely rescued. She acknowledged the experience as "a moment of life and death" as the wind continuously intensified, though rain had not yet fallen heavily.
The poster noted that despite many children participating in the marine activities that day, there were no clear evacuation warnings or orders. Some families kept their children clinging to floating toys in the sea unaware a storm was approaching.
Only after rain began and the storm worsened did jet ski operators gradually retrieve children back to boats, with some crying in shock. The poster called for marine tourism operators to enhance safety measures, including advance weather alerts, appropriate staff-to-tourist ratios, and timely emergency response protocols.
While no injuries or fatalities occurred, she expressed disappointment and noted she had not received any apology or explanation from boat staff or dive trip coordinators since the incident.
